12/13/2020 - Advent Love

What's the most important thing? This question was put to Jesus. His answer seems rather simple - Love God and love people.  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39 Loving God and loving others are intertwined. In other words, you can't love God without loving those around you - especially your brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus explains the importance of this... "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 Christmas gives you the motivation because the birth of Jesus reveals God's love for you.  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 Illuminate, you have a done an amazing job of loving others. As your pastor, I am so very proud of you. This Sunday we celebrate all the love you've shown through your generosity and faithfulness in 2020!